Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe

This Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe is one of my family’s favorite ways to eat Cornish game hens!  I love picking up cornish game hens when they are on sale.  Cornish Game Hens make for a fun unique twist on dinner.  (I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Ever since I was given a 12 Piece Set of Spiecology spices for Christmas. I had never had them before, and it’s easy to say I am hooked on them! I love that they are a small business out of Spokane, WA, meaning are PNW as well!! You can also grab their spices off of Amazon (See them -> here) or their own website.  We found Mother Plucker at a coastal town and I plan to order a couple more out of the Sasquatch Line of Spiceology, so good on smoked chicken.  

Ultimate Rub Collection – Spiceology Set of 12 Gourmet BBQ Spice RubsSasquatch BBQ Rubs8-Pack BBQ Rubs – Spiceology Barbecue Grilling Spice Rubs and Seasoning Gift Set

Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Ingredients:

• Cornish Game Hens
• Olive Oil
• Greek Freak 
• Salt
• Pepper 

Greek Freak – Mediterranean Blend – All Purpose Greek SeasoningAmazon Brand – Happy Belly Pure Olive Oil, Mediterranean Blend, 51 Fl OzTrader Joe’s Pink Salt and Black Pepper Grinder Set – Black Peppercorns and Pink Himalayan Salt Crystals

How To Make Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens:

Now when we buy Cornish Game Hens they are frozen.  Pull your cornish game hens to thaw out, I leave mine in the fridge for a day or on the counter.  

Once thawed rub down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.

Season to taste with Spicecology Greek Freak, salt, and pepper to taste. 

Allow to the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking. Keep them in the fridge if you aren’t smoking in a short time frame.

An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens remove them from the fridge, this allows them to get up to room temperature. 

Now one thing I have learned over the years is to cook to temp not for a set amount of time. Now I have fallen in love with my Pit Boss Pro 1100 from Lowes, if you don’t have Lowes, Walmart, and Amazon carry other Pit Boss options or Pit Boss website themselves.  I love that I can set it at 225 with smoke and run inside and take a shower or prep sides and it just cooks my meat with an amazing smoke flavor! 

Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke.   I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken. 

Once I get my Pellet Grill rolling smoke I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.   

Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke.  They will slowly start to increase in temperature by default but this is also cold smoking because there isn’t an active heat.  

When you are close to wanting to heat turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.  

As the Cornish Game Hens cook be sure to rotate the hens and flip them as needed.

Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 160 degrees.  (I love this one ->here on Amazon)

Remove and serve!!! 

What To Serve With Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens:

• Smoked Baked Potato Salad
• Green Salad
• Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes 
• White Rice
• Smoked Baked Potatoes

Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe

This Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe is the perfect way to smoke hens! The flavor is amazing from the rub and cold smoking on a pellet grill!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 5 hrs

Rest Time In Fridge 12 hrs

Total Time 17 hrs 5 mins

Course Entree

Cuisine American, BBQ

Ingredients

  

• Cornish Game Hens
• Olive Oil
• Greek Freak
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

 

• Pull your cornish game hens to thaw out if frozen, I leave mine in the fridge for a day or on the counter.
• Once thawed rub down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.
• Season to taste with Spicecology Greek Freak, salt, and pepper to taste.
• Allow to the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking. Keep them in the fridge if you aren't smoking in a short time frame.
• An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens remove them from the fridge, this allows
• I smoked these on a Pit Boss Pro 1100 but this can be done on any smoker.
• Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke.   I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken.
• Once I get my Pellet Grill rolling smoke I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.
• Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke.  They will slowly start to increase in temperature by default but this is also cold smoking because there isn't an active heat.
• When you are close to wanting to heat turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.
• As the Cornish Game Hens cook be sure to rotate the hens and flip them as needed.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 160 degrees.  (I love this one ->here on Amazon)
• Remove and serve!!!

Video

Notes

What To Serve With Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens:

 

• Smoked Baked Potato Salad
• Green Salad
• Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes 
• White Rice
• Smoked Baked Potatoes

 

Keyword cornish game hens, pellet grill, smoked cornish game hens, Smoked Meat